Streams stocked in Decorah District

All announced and unannounced streams were stocked last week. Streams are in excellent condition.

Brook trout, slow: sneak up on brook trout for a better chance to catch one of these beauties.

Brown trout. good: try fishing near or around logs or undercut banks. Spinner baits work well. Also try streamers on larger bodies of water. Brown trout like cloudy water.

Rainbow trout, good: use spinner baits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a small piece of worm, bread or cheese floated through deeper holes.

Lake Hendricks

Water clarity is about three feet. Water temperature in the low 80s.

Black crappie, good: try small jigs tipped with minnow in about six feet of water.

Bluegill, fair: bluegills are shallow; use a small piece of worm or waxworm.

Channel catfish, fair: try night crawler or squashed minnow on hook near bottom.

Largemouth bass, good: use top water lures along edge of vegetation.

Lake Meyer

Lake clarity is about two feet due to an algae bloom. Clarity is improving with cooler temperatures. Water temperature is in the low 80s.

Most fish suspended at depths not greater than six feet.

Black crappie, good: use spinner baits or jig tipped with minnow in six feet of water or less. Trolling is a great option.

Bluegill, good: try small hooks tipped with a waxworm or small piece of worm under bobber.

Channel catfish, slow: use night crawler on hook fished at bottom.

Largemouth bass, good: try spinner bait along edge of vegetation. Reports of anglers catching quite a few small bass.

North Bear Creek

Stream habitat improvements completed on upper North Bear downstream of 380th St. bridge with seeding and mulching. Improvements between 128th Ave. and 380th Street will starting the end of September.

Rainbow trout, slow: thanks for staying out of this area until vegetation gets established. There are many other great locations to fish on North Bear. Stocking continues below this area weekly.

Turkey River (above Clermont)

Water clarity is good. Use caution when on water. Visit National Water Prediction Service website for more information.

Smallmouth bass, good: use shallow running crankbaits or spinners along current breaks or rocky shores.

Walleye, good: try fishing near evening along rocky shorelines or current breaks.

Turkey River (below Clermont)

Water clarity is good to excellent. Use caution when on the water.

Smallmouth bass, good: find smallies in deeper holes or near rock ledges.

Walleye, good: use crankbaits or jigs tipped with plastics in off channel areas.

Upper Iowa River (above Decorah)

Smallmouth bass, good: find bass along rock ledges and deeper pools around woody habitat.

Walleye, good: find walleye in deeper runs or pools and in back eddies; use spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a plastic worm.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)

Water level is low with improved clarity.

Smallmouth bass. good: find smallies in off channel areas and back eddies; use spinners or streamers.

Walleye, fair: find walleyes in deeper water and back eddies. Evening bite is best; try spinners or crankbaits.

Volga Lake

Black crappie, good: find crappies in six feet of water or less or near drop-offs; use a jig tipped with a minnow.

Bluegill, good: try a small piece of worm on a hook under bobber near brush or rocky areas.

Channel catfish, good: use a squished minnow or worm fished on bottom.

Largemouth bass, good: try spinners or crankbaits along jetties or drop-offs.

Volga River

Smallmouth bass, good: try fishing in deeper pool using top water lures or a light colored jig with twister tail.

Water levels on area rivers and streams are falling or stabilizing. Water clarity is good to excellent. Weekend temperatures in the low 80s to upper 40s at night.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)

Channel catfish, good: try chubs fished on river bottom below snags or other structure.

Flathead catfish, fair: use chubs on river bottom below snags or other structure.

Smallmouth bass, fair: try lead head jigs with twister tails.

Walleye, fair: cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a night crawler.

George Wyth Lake

Anglers are doing fair on crappie and bluegill.

Black crappie, fair: use electronics to find and drift a live minnow under a bobber or artificial jigs over structure in six to eight feet of water.

Bluegill, fair: use a piece of worm under a bobber in areas with structure or off the jetties.

Lake Delhi

Anglers are catching crappie. Avoid weekends; concentrate efforts early morning and evenings during the weekdays.

Black crappie, fair: try a minnow under a slip bobber around shoreline structure in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Manchester District Streams

Rainbow trout stockings are on schedule. Brown trout fishing fair, especially in the evenings.

Brown trout, fair: use crankbaits, jigs, spinners, dry flies or nymphs. Rainbow trout, good: try jigs, spinners, crankbaits or live bait.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)

Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and walleye in Delaware County.

Smallmouth bass, fair: use live or artificial tackle.

Walleye, fair: cast and retrieve lead head jigs tipped with a night crawler.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)

Smallmouth bass, good: use lead head jigs with twister tails.

Interior rivers are at usual levels this time of year to provide great angling. Lakes in and around Cedar Falls are producing catches of panfish. Trout streams remain in excellent condition.